Orienting mechanism.



' G. H. POPE.

OBIBNTING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATIOH FILED 1n! lg, 1001.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C'karZes 7L fo io e, 1 3

In: NORRIS PIY'I'R! cu. WAsNINuroN. A n,

G. H. POPE. OBIENTING MEOHANIBM.

LPPLIUATIDH FILED HAY 14, 1907. 913,051 Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

B SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CHARLES H. POPE, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

ORIENTING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 14, 1907.

Patented Feb. 28, 1909.

Serial No. 378,692.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. Porn, a citizen of the United States, residing in Cambridge, county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Orienting Mechanism, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like numerals on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention has for its ob'ect to provide a novel orienting mechanism, y which term I mean a device which when attached to any apparatus will cause the latter to continually face the sun or any other heavenly body during its apparent motion athwart the sky.

My orienting mechanism can be used in connection with a solar apparatus for causin the reflector to follow the ap arent course 0 the sun, or in connection Wit astronomical, telescopic or photogsaphic apparatus for causing such apparatus to follow the course of any heavenly body. It may also be used for determining latitude or in a variety of other ways.

For the purpose of illustrating and describing my invention and its manner of use I have chosen to show it in connection with a solar ap aratus of the general type illustrated an described in my Patent No. 820,127, dated May 8, 1906, but I Wish it distinctly understood that the orienting mechanism herein described is capable of use in connection with other ap aratus.

I will first describe one em odiment of my invention and then point out the novelfeatures thereof in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a side view of an orienting mechanism embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view; Fig. 3 1s a section on line :cz, F1 1; Fig. 4 is a side view of Fig. 3 looking IOIIl the left; Fig. 5 is a section on line yy, Fi 1; Fig. 6 1s a section on line (2-0, Fig. 5; ig. 7 is a view showing how the device may be used for operating a solar apparatus; Fig. 8 is a section on a reduced scale on the line Z 'b, Fig. 7.

My orienting mechanism as herein illustrated comprises a shaft which is adjustably mounted so that it may be always directed toward the north or olar star and which, therefore, stands are el with the axis of the earth (which she t I will refer to for convenience as the olar shaft); an arm or pointer adjustab y carried by theshaft so that it may be directed toward the sun or any other heavenly body; and an element (hereinafter termed for convenience the meridian element) which is rotatable about a vertical axis and is actuated in its movement by the Jointer carried by the olar shaft. The po at shaft is arranged to e driven at a speed corresponding to the rotation of the earth about its axis and durin its rotation the pointer carried thereby wil when properly set be constantly directed toward any selected heavenly body and at the same time the movement of the pointer will cause the meridian element to be swung about its vertical axis from east to West to also follow the apparent motion of the heavenly body.

In the present embodiment of my invention, 3 is the olar shaft which is mounted in any suitabe fixed bearing member 4. 5 is the arm or pointer carried thereby, and 6 is the meridian element. The polar shaft 3 is situated so that its axis of motion intersects the axis of motion of the meridian element 6, and the point of intersection forms a fixed point about which all oints of the apparatus move. The polar s aft 3 is adjustably mounted in the bearing 4, so that it may be set parallel with the axis of the earth or directed toward the polar star at any place Where it may be used, and the manner of adjustin it is such that in all adjusted positions t ereof its axis will pass through the fixed point above mentioned. Any devices for thus adjustably mounting the polar shaft'may be employed without departing from my invention, and as one convenient construction, I have shown said shaft as mounted in a box 7 which is ad'ustable on the post or bearing 4 in an arc of a circle having the fixed point reviously mentioned as its center. This box is shown as confined between shoulders 8 formed in the bearing 4, which shoulders are formed on the are previously mentioned, and the box is held in its adjusted position by clamping screws 9 which are secured in the post or bearin 4. Preferably the side of the bearing will be graduated, as at 10, to indicate degrees by which the exact angle of the shaft with the horizon may at any time be indicated, this angle, when the apparatus is propely adjusted, corresponding to the latitude or the polar altitude of the place Where the instrument is located.

The arm or pointer 5 extends radially from the polar shaft 3 and is pivoted thereto so that its axis of movement relative to the shaft passes through the fixed point. Said arm or pointer may thus be adjusted relative to the shaft to form different angles therewith, and for holding it in any adjusted position, I have herein shown the end of the polar shaft as forked, as at 11, and the arm or pointer 5 as received between the forked. end and mounted on the stud .12. Said stud is provided with the shoulder 61. to engage a shoulder in one branch of the fork 11, with a non-circular portion 62 on which the pointer 5 is received, and with. a clamping nut 13 by which the pointer may e clamped fixedly in any adjusted position. This particular manner of clamping the pointer in any fixed position to the shaft is not essential to m invention, however. I have also shown t e stud 12 as having a head 64 which is provided with a slot 65 in which is received a clamping screw 66, said screw being screw-threaded into one branch of the fork 11 and operating to assist in clamping the arm or pointer 5 in its adjusted position. If desired I may also provide the head with a scale 68 representing either degrees or seasons of the year with which cooperates an indication mark 69 on the shaft 3. This scale may be used in setting the pointer 5 to correspond with the time of year, or the scale or the marks on the face of the meridian element may be used for this pur ose.

The merid ian element 6 is formed with the base portion 14 which is pivoted at 15 to turn about a vertical axis which intersects the fixed point above mentioned, and said meridian element is provided with the curved portion 16, the curve of which is on a circle struck from the fixed point as a center. This curved portion 16 is shown as being slotted, as at 17, and the end of the pointer 5 is received in said slot. As a result whenever the shaft 3 is turned in either direction the arm or pointer 5 by engaging in the slot 17 causes the meridian element 6 to be turned about its pivot 15, and during such turning movement the end of the pointer 5 will rise and fall in the slot 17. In case the meridian element 6 or the art to be moved thereby is comparatively eavy, I may if desired make the base 14 with another u wardly-extending slotted portion 18 into t e slot of which the lower end of the arm or pointer 5 en a es. Where this construction is employer? t e arm or pointer 5 acts on the meridian element both sides of the pivot 15 and thus any binding or cramping may be avoided and more perfect control is secured.

In using the device for causing an object to follow the course of the sun, the polar shaft 3 will be first adjusted at the proper angle so that it will be directed toward the north or polar star. The angle at which said shaft is adjusted to direct it toward the polar star will, of course, be different in different latitudes. The arm 5 is then adjusted so that at any time it is directed toward the sun and then it is clamped in this position. The angular position of the arm on the shaft 5 to secure this result will, of course, vary at different times of the year. At the equinox said arm will be at a right angle to the shaft, while in north latitudes during the winter months, said arm will be inclined into the dotted line position d, Fig. 1, and in summer months will be shifted to the other side of the right angle into substantially full line position Fig. 1. If desired the meridian element 6 will be provided with indication marks which will assist a person in setting the arm to accord with the time of year. When the apparatus is thus set if the shaft is rotated at the proper speed the arm or pointer 5 will always be directed toward the sun at all times of the day, and an element secured to said arm or operated thereby may thus always be kept pointed toward the sun.

The shaft 3 may be operated by any suit able mechanism for giving it a uniform motion at the proper speed, and I have herein illustrated said shaft as having a gear 19 thereon which meshes with a gear 20 o erated by a suitable clock work 21.

W ile my ap aratus as thus far described may be used or a variety of purposes, 1 have in the drawings illustrated it as used in connection with a solar apparatus such as shown and described in my Patent No. 820,127. This solar apparatus comprises a standard 23 adapted to revolve on a track 37 about a vertical axis, and a reflector 24 mounted on the standard and arranged to turn thereon about a horizontal axis 25. In using my orienting mechanism with this type of solar apparatus I fasten the standard 23 to the meridian element 6 so that said standard will move with the meridian element about the pivot 15 and I connect the reflector to the arm or pointer 5 by means of a flexible connection 27, said flexible connection being shown as passing down over the direction pulley 28 so that as the arm or pointer 5 rises in the slot, the back side of the reflector is drawn down to point the reflector upwardly. When said arm or pointer moves downwardly in the slot the exible connection is slackened, and the weight of the front portion of said reflector causes it to swing downwardly, said weight of the front port1on being sufficient to keep the connection 27 taut at all times. When the orienting mechanism is used thus, the reflector will be turned about a vertical axis by the meridian element and at the same time about its horizontal axis by the arm or pointer '5, thus causing it to be directed toward the sun at all times of theflay.

It will be obvious that by properly adjusting the pointer 5 my orienting mechanism may also be used for giving movement to telescopes or photographic apparatus for causing them to fol ow the course of any heavenly body. My ap aratus can also be used for determining t e latitude of any lace b simply setting the pointer so that it will ave the correct angular relation to the shaft 3 to correspond to the day of the year on which the determination of latitudes is to be made, and then adjusting the shaft 3 until the pointer is directed toward the sun. The inclination of the shaft 3 will then correspond to the polar altitude or latitude of the place where the observation is made and such latitude can be found by simply reading the scale 10.

I have not attem ted to show herein all forms of my inventlon but have illustrated one embodiment only.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an orienting mechanism, the combination with a polar shaft, of a pivoted meridian element and an arm carried by said shaft and operatively engaging the meridian element.

2. In an orienting mechanism, the combination with a olar shaft, of an arm extending radially t erefrom, and a meridian element pivoted to turn about a vertical axis and having operative engagement with said arm.

3. In an orienting mechanism, the combination with a polar shaft, of means to sustain said shaft in an inclined position, an arm extending radially from said shaft, and a meridian element pivoted to turn about an axis which intersects that of the shaft, said element having operative engagement with said arm.

4. In an orienting mechanism, the combi-- nation with a polar shaft, of means to rotate said shaft, an arm extending radiall from the shaft, and a meridian element aving nation with a operative engagement with the arm and pivoted to turn about an axis which intersects that of the shaft at the point where the arm radiates therefrom.

5. In an orienting mechanism, the combination with an adjustably-mounted olar shaft, of an arm extending radially tierefrom and adjustable thereon, and a meridian element having operative engagement with the arm and mounted to turn about an axis which intersects that of the shaft at the point from which the arm radiates.

6. In an orienting mechanism, the combination with a polar shaft of an arm extending radially therefrom at a fixed oint and adjustable to vary the angular re ation between the arm and shaft, and a meridian element having operative engagement with the arm and mounted to turn about an axis which intersects that of the shaft at the point from which the arm radiates.

7. In an orienting mechanism, the combiolar shaft, of means for ad justing said s aft to vary the angular inclination thereof and to maintain it in all ositions with its axis passing through a fixed point, an arm extending radially to said shaft from said fixed point, and a meridian element having operative engagment with the arm and mounted to turn about an axis which intersects said fixed point.

8. In an orientin mechanism the combination with a polar s aft adjustably mounted whereby its inclination to the horizon may be varied, of an arm extending radiall from said shaft and a slotted meridian e ement mounted to turn about an axis which intersects the axis of the shaft at the point from which the arm radiates, said arm engageing said slot.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES H. POPE.

Witnesses:

BERTHA F. HEUSER, LOUIS 0. SMITH. 

